Method of and apparatus for reducing and separating ores



(No Model.)

R. A. STEWART.

METHOD OP AND APPARATUS POR REDUCINCT AND SBPARATING GRES. No. 601,533. Patented Mar.29,1898.

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UNiTEn STATES `PATENT FFICE. i

ROBERT A. STEWART, OF OERRILLOS, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO, AS-

SIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES J. VORPE AND LILLIE G. BEALE, OF VAN YVERT, OI-IIO.

lMETHOD. OF AND APPARATUS FOR REDUING AND SEPARATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,533, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed April 21, 1897.

' make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in the method of and apparatus for reducing and separating ores,the object being to effect a saving of time and expense as well as a thorough separation of the precious metals from their ores; and it consists in certain procedure in the method of treatment of the ores and in features of construction and combinations of parts in the apparatus, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation of the form of apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the centrifugal distributer."

A represents a furnace. This may be ofV any approved construction, its function being to furnish heat for the ore-chamber. Ordinary fuel is burnedin it, and a draft is created by a blast-fan et beneath the grate. B indicates this ore-chamber, into which the charge of ore is fed through a chute b or otherwise for disintegration, and the flow of ore into the chamber may be regulated by a gate c at the lower end of this chute. A pipe 1 leads from the furnace into the ore-chamber for discharging the full blast of heated air thereinto. This pipe l may be variously constructed, and it must of course be lined with some refractory material to withstand the intense heat. The pipe is preferably large where it leaves the furnace, from which point it is gradually reduced in size to concentrate the escaping hot air as it passes through it. In order to increase the intensity of heat of this column of air, a steam-pipe 2 is inserted part way through the pipe l, and its contents is discharged therein a short distance back from the discharge end of the larger pipe, so that Serial No. 683, l70. (No model.) I

the contents of the two are mixed together before the flame enters the ore-chamber. This steam may be brought in from any convenient point-as, for instance, the boiler of the furnace-and to superheat it I prefer to conduct it through the furnace for a short distance. Air may be introduced into the pipe 1 by means of another pipe similar to steampipe 2, or it may be admitted through openings 3 in the front of the ore-chamber around the pipe l, if desired. By this means I am enabled to get a very high degree of heat, and this is absolutely necessary to accomplish my purpose, which is. to entirely disintegrate the ore while in the ore-chamber B. After this heat has'continued for an adequate period the ore is calcined or reducedto powder, and it is not until this stagof disintegration has been reached that it is in condition for the next step in the process of treatment.

An exhaust-chamber 5 is located beyond the ore-chamber, and apipe 6 conducts the iinelydisintegrated ore from chamber B into the eX` haust-chamber. Beneath the exhaust-chamber a distributing-chamber 7 is located. This chamber is filled with water and its bottom is covered with Quicksilver. A centrifugal distributer 8 is submerged in the water of this chamber, and it is constructed to rotate therein at a high speed. A pipe 9, leading down from'the bottom of the exhaust-chamber, constitutes an outlet for the contents of the latter, and the rapidly-revolvin g centrifugal distributer creates a suction thereon which is sufficient to carry the ore from chamber B just as fast as it becomes finely disintegrated. This distributer has slotted sides, out through which its contents is forced into the surrounding water as a result of the centrifugal action.

Water is constantly supplied through a pipel2, and an overflow 13 carries it off over amalgamating-plates, Where any remaining particles of precious metal are readily extracted.

The heat, the dampers, the steam and air supply, andthe speed of the distributer may be regulated suitably to accomplish the best results. The apparatus may of course be varied more or less-as, for instance, any variety of fu-rnace might be employed and the steam can be supplied from any convenient z the natural draft of the furnace and the force of the air-blast in front. In this way the time required and the cost incident to the operation of reduction is reduced to a minimum. By actual tests I have found that I can reduce a charge of ore an hour at a greatly-reduced cost, probably one third or fourth of the usual cost, at the same time saving a larger per cent. of the precious metal than it has been possible to do heretofore. It Will not pay, ordinarily, to mine ore which does not yield ten dollars per ton, as it costs that much to reduce it. By this method I make it yield three or four times that amount,

and I propose to employ my method to a very large extent in working Waste and discarded ore, because it will save such a large percentage of what has heretofore been lost. Also it may be mentioned that this process may be applied to the manufacture of paint from lead ore, as it is most effective and successful in reducing lead in a single 'process for use-as an ingredient in the manufacture of paint.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The method of reducing and separating ores, consisting in heating the ores until the ore is calcined and brought into a finely-divided condition while still in the presence of heat, then conveying the calcined ore by suction and distributing it over an amalgamator located beneath a body of water, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an ore-chamber,

means for applying sufficient heat thereto to calcine and reduce the ore to a finely-divided condition, of a receptacle adapted to contain a body of water, a centrifugal distributer located within said receptacle and arranged to be submerged in water, and a conduit through which the calcined ore is drawn from the orechamber into the centrifugal distributer, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an ore-chamber, means for supplying sufficient heatI thereto to calcine and reduce the ore to a finely-divided condition, and an exhaust-chamber in communication with the ore-chamber, of a distributing-chamber communicating with the ore-chamber, a slotted centrifugal distributer located in the distributing-chamber and connections through which the calcined ore is drawn from the ore-chamber into the centrifugal distributer, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with an exhaust-chamber, and a distribution-chamber containing water therein, of a slotted centrifugal distributer submerged in Water contained in the distribution-chamber and in communication with the exhaust-chamber .to draw material from the exhaust-chamber into the distributer and force it therefrom into the surrounding water.

5. The combination with an exhaust-chainber and a distribution-chamber adapted to contain water, of a slotted centrifugal distributer and an axial tube leading from the exhaust-chamber through which material is drawn into it from said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT A. STEWART.

Witnesses:

S. W. FOSTER, R. \S. FERGUSON. 

